System and method for adding electrolyte to an energy storage cell

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for increasing the rate at which an electrolyte permeates the micropores of an energy storage cell. In a preferred embodiment, an energy storage cell is filled with a quantity of an electrolyte which is then exposed to an electric field. The electrolyte is electrophoretically driven into the micropores of the energy cell at a rate that is greater than without the use of electrophoresis.

1 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device comprising at least one porous element,    introducing electrolyte to the energy storage device, and    applying electrical potential sufficient to cause the electrolyte to permeate the at least one porous element.    
   
   
       2 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device comprising at least one electrode,    establishing an electrical potential relative to the at least one electrode, and    introducing electrolyte to the energy storage device.    
   
   
       3 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device comprising at least one porous element, and    electrophoretically permeating the at least one porous element with electrolyte.    
   
   
       4 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device having a volume not less than 80 cm 3  and comprising at least one electrode,    establishing a electrical potential relative to the at least one electrode, and    filling the energy storage device volume with electrolyte in not greater than 15 minutes.    
   
   
       5 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device comprising at least one porous element,    introducing electrolyte to the energy storage device, and    applying electrical potential sufficient to increase the rate at which the electrolyte permeates the at least one porous element    
   
   
       6 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device comprising at least one porous element,    exposing the storage cell to an electric field, and    introducing electrolyte to the energy storage device.    
   
   
       7 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device comprising at least one porous element,    introducing electrolyte to the energy storage device,    electrophorectically forcing the electrolyte to permeate the porous element.    
   
   
       8 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device having a volume of not less than 80 cm 3  and comprising at least one porous element,    introducing electrolyte to the energy storage device, and    applying electrical potential sufficient to cause the electrolyte to permeate the at least one porous element and fill the volume in not greater than 15 minutes.    
   
   
       9 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device having a volume of not less than 80 cm 3  and comprising at least one porous element, and    electrophoretically permeating the at least one porous element and filling the volume with electrolyte in not greater than 15 minutes.    
   
   
       10 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device having a volume of not less than 80 cm 3  and comprising at least one porous element,    introducing electrolyte to the energy storage device, and    applying electrical potential sufficient to increase the rate at which the electrolyte permeates the at least one porous element and fill the volume with electrolyte in not greater than 15 minutes.    
   
   
       11 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device having a volume of not less than 80 cm 3  and comprising at least one porous element,    exposing the storage cell to an electric field, and    introducing electrolyte to the energy storage device and filling the volume with electrolyte in not greater than 15 minutes.    
   
   
       12 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device having a volume of not less than 80 cm 3  and comprising at least one porous element,    introducing electrolyte to the energy storage device,    electrophorectically forcing the electrolyte to permeate the porous element and fill the volume with electrolyte in not greater than 15 minutes.    
   
   
       13 . An energy storage device manufactured in accordance with the method defined by any of claims  1 - 12 .  
   
   
       14 . A device comprising: 
 a track configured to receive an energy storage cell, and    at least one electrode configured to electrify an electrolyte solution within the energy storage cell.    
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one electrode is spring loaded.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 14 , comprising an indexing mechanism.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the track is configured to hold more than one energy storage cell.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the energy storage cell has a coiled structure.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the energy storage cell has a prismatic structure.  
   
   
       20 . A method, comprising: 
 exposing an energy storage cell to an electric field, and    adding an electrolyte solution to the energy storage cell.    
   
   
       21 . A method for increasing the rate at which an electrolyte solution permeates the micropores of the plates of an energy storage cell, comprising: 
 providing an energy storage cell having at least one pair of plates,    exposing the energy storage cell to an electric field, and    adding an electrolyte solution.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the plates are a galvanic couple of dissimilar metals.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the plates are each coated with an electrolytic paste to form at least one anode and at least one cathode.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the electrolyte is potassium hydroxide.  
   
   
       25 . A method for electrophoretically adding an electrolyte solution to an energy storage cell, comprising: 
 adding an electrolyte to an energy storage cell, and    exposing the electrolyte to an electric current.    
   
   
       26 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device comprising at least one porous element,    introducing electrolyte to the energy storage device, and    establishing an electrical current sufficient to cause the electrolyte to permeate the at least one porous element.    
   
   
       27 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device comprising at least one electrode,    establishing an electrical current relative to the at least one electrode, and    introducing electrolyte to the energy storage device.    
   
   
       28 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device having a volume not less than 80 cm 3  and comprising at least one electrode,    establishing an electrical current relative to the at least one electrode, and    filling the energy storage device volume with electrolyte in not greater than 15 minutes.    
   
   
       29 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device comprising at least one porous element,    introducing electrolyte to the energy storage device, and    establishing an electrical current sufficient to increase the rate at which the electrolyte permeates the at least one porous element    
   
   
       30 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device having a volume of not less than 80 cm 3  and comprising at least one porous element,    introducing electrolyte to the energy storage device, and    establishing an electrical current sufficient to cause the electrolyte to permeate the at least one porous element and fill the volume in not greater than 15 minutes.    
   
   
       31 . A method comprising: 
 providing an energy storage device having a volume of not less than 80 cm 3  and comprising at least one porous element,    introducing electrolyte to the energy storage device, and    establishing an electrical current sufficient to increase the rate at which the electrolyte permeates the at least one porous element and fill the volume with electrolyte in not greater than 15 minutes.    
   
   
       32 . A device comprising: 
 at least one electrode,    means for relatively positioning the at least one electrode and an energy storage cell, the energy storage cell comprising at least one porous element, the at least one electrode being configured to establish electrical potential sufficient to cause an electrolyte to permeate the at least one porous element.    
   
   
       33 . A device comprising: 
 at least one electrode,    means for relatively positioning the at least one electrode and an energy storage cell, the energy storage cell comprising at least one porous element, the at least one electrode being configured to establish electrical current sufficient to cause an electrolyte to permeate the at least one porous element.